Slippery turf in Cal's rebuilt stadium

Updated 11:50 pm, Saturday, September 1, 2012

Keenan Allen, just missing this first-quarter pass, said the footing was a little "mushy" on the stadium's new turf. "It was hard for our cleats to stick."

Keenan Allen, just missing this first-quarter pass, said the footing was a little "mushy" on the stadium's new turf. "It was hard for our cleats to stick."

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Slippery turf in Cal's rebuilt stadium

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While Cal players gave the Matrix Turf field positive reviews in the weeks leading up to Saturday's game, there was more than a little slipping going on. Wide receiver Keenan Allenslipped on his first pass reception in the opening quarter and lost 3 yards.

"It was kind of mushy out there," he said. "It was hard for our cleats to stick in the ground. I was slipping all day."

Freshman wide receiver Bryce Treggssaid, "Turf was a little wet. That was a big factor in the slipping."

Treggs and fellow freshman wideout Chris Harperboth had touchdown catches in their first college game. Treggs caught a 37-yard strike from Zach Maynardin the second quarter, and Harper had a 13-yarder in the fourth period.

"Huge job by those guys," Maynard said. "They took a couple D-1 hits. It's very important to them."

Coach's critique: Asked about Maynard, who completed 17 of 30 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns and lost a fumble, coach Jeff Tedfordsaid, "I thought he did some decent things. Other things we need to improve. There were some open guys we have to hit. It's an average game for Zach. He has to be better than that."

"This is remarkable up here," he said, taking in the view from the press box on the seventh level of the building. "From what I've seen, I'm very impressed. Looking at it from a macro perspective, it's a great accomplishment."

How about that? This was Nevada's first victory over Cal in Berkeley since 1903, a 6-2 epic outcome.